Amiga.org
Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Gaming => Topic started by: gaula92 on December 23, 2010, 01:49:11 PM
-
Hello there
I am truly desperated with this one, after weeks of trying different solutions...
Cannon Fodder doesn't save (for me) on the Minimig. It spits errors while formatting the savedisk (I've tried a normal 901KB ADF and a custom extended 2MB ADF savedisk), then it never recognizes the just-formatted disk, so I can't save or load on it.
However, AW72 from minimig.net pointed me to this, written by Darrin two years ago at amigaworld.net:
Cannon Fodder: Started formatting a blank ADF then screen went blank. Disk activity continued (light flashing) and finally stopped. Screen remained blank and I had to reset the Minimig. I reloaded Cannon Fodder and then tried to save to the ADF I previously tried to format and the game appeared to save. I played a level and then reloaded the saved game position and it found my data and reloaded it perfectly. I tried to format another ADF file to see if that made a difference and got the same crash midway through the format.
Ok, Darrin, can you help here?
I'm using fairlight's release, and it doesn't behave like that. Are you using some kind of fixed version?
Thanks
-
How about loading the game under UAE, creating an ADF of the save disk, then putting that on your memory card?
--
moto
-
No, the game requires a custom ADF (2MB) to save under UAE. It can format that disk, save onto it, and load from it.
But that disk isn't recognized on the Minimig. It can't be formatted, it can't be used to save or load, etc.
So that's why I'm asking how Darrin made it...
-
I'm here!
OK, I'm in the middle of painting at the moment, but give me a chance and I'll power up the Minimig tonight and check it out.
Sometimes it boils down to what ADF files you are using (there were a couple of games that didn't work with one set of ADFs and then worked perfectly with a different set).
Worst case, I'll send you my game ADFs and the "save" ADF. :)
One thing I will add is that I created the save game ADF from a standard "blank" ADF made using UAE.
-
@ gaula92
Even though I own the original, I use a 'hacked version' on my HD as it saves the game position as a file so need for floppies or even ADF images... :)
-
No, the game requires a custom ADF (2MB) to save under UAE. It can format that disk, save onto it, and load from it.
But that disk isn't recognized on the Minimig. It can't be formatted, it can't be used to save or load, etc.
So that's why I'm asking how Darrin made it...
Ahh so the required save disk format on UAE and on MiniMig are different?
-
@Franko: Does that version of yours save & load on the Minimig? I have a VERY nice HD version wich saves and loads on real AMiga and UAE but it doesn't work on Minimig. Have you tested it there?
@Motorollin: those ADFs would be nice, of course...
-
Not sure as I don't own a MiniMig but it should do, if you have other games that can save out high scores and saved game positions as a normal file that work then the version I use should work just fine... :)
-
@Franko: is it the TRIANGLE release or the WHDLoad release? Or is it any other CF HD release I've never heard of?
-
@Franko: is it the TRIANGLE release or the WHDLoad release? Or is it any other CF HD release I've never heard of?
Not sure but it's not a WHDLoad version... :)
-
Not sure but it's not a WHDLoad version... :)
Then please put it here:
redwindwanderer at gmail dot com
so I can try and see if that version saves on the Minimig
-
@Franko: Does that version of yours save & load on the Minimig? I have a VERY nice HD version wich saves and loads on real AMiga and UAE but it doesn't work on Minimig. Have you tested it there?
@Motorollin: those ADFs would be nice, of course...
Check your PM, send me a reply and I'll wing you the ADFs.... be quick... I'm about to head outside and get covered in paint...
-
@Darrin: PM sent! Sorry if I was too late and you're already covered with paint!
Be careful not to paint the Minimig! :(
-
@Darrin: PM sent! Sorry if I was too late and you're already covered with paint!
Be careful not to paint the Minimig! :(
No problem. I've been trying to format a disk using the Minimig and I'm getting Gurus. :(
It might be a configuration thing. Currently I'm using a v1.1 with a ARM board, KS3.1, 4MB RAM, 4 "floppies" and turbo mode.
When I did those tests, it was on a basic v1.1 with an old core with no ARM, probably 1 floppy (2 at the most), etc.
I don't have time to try different configurations at the moment, but I'm emailing you the game ADFs and a blank ADF. I'll try fiddling with it myself tonight.
Let me know if you get it to work with a particular set up. It worked once so it has to work again. Unfortunately I can't find the "save" disk I made because I probably reused it when playing other games. :(
-
@Franko: Does that version of yours save & load on the Minimig? I have a VERY nice HD version wich saves and loads on real AMiga and UAE but it doesn't work on Minimig. Have you tested it there?
@Motorollin: those ADFs would be nice, of course...
Sorry but I don't use ADFs, only WHDLoad versions.
-
@ gaula92
The ADFs I mentioned contain the HD version, gonna send you a PM shortly... :)
-
I tried the HD version you just sent me. It's another great release, a very nice HD version that works great on my Amiga 1200 with just 2MB chipram, and works great on UAE, but it doesn't even load on the Minimig.
Thanks anyway, Franko
-
Can't you have HDFs on MiniMig? If so, couldn't you use the WHDLoad version?
--
moto
-
Can't you have HDFs on MiniMig? If so, couldn't you use the WHDLoad version?
--
moto
Yes, I have the ARM controller so I have pretty fast HDF support onboard. BUT I only have a normal Minimig (2MB), so Whdload version is a HELL of os-swaps, wich totally ruins the music in the game in every loading section.
-
Yes, I have the ARM controller so I have pretty fast HDF support onboard. BUT I only have a normal Minimig (2MB), so Whdload version is a HELL of os-swaps, wich totally ruins the music in the game in every loading section.
Is the slave too big to preload it if you boot with no startup-sequence?
-
from the Whdload install readme, the game requires 2.7MB for preload option.
So, no, having just 1.5MB free (without startup-sequence, that's it) makes it impossible to use preload.
-
Yeah, I use WHDLoad on my Minimig using ClassicWB and KG's WHDLoad game packs, but I have the extra RAM.
-
Ok, so ADFs it is then :) Unless you can upgrade the RAM on a MiniMig. Is that possible?
-
Yes, it can be made with the proper tools and hability, and I lack both.
Amigakit offers service for it, nice price and very good results, but I'd have to send the Minimig to england, and I don't want to part with it during christmas holidays :D (maybe when I have more money...)
However, I sent Darrin a vey good HD install (not Whdload, a Triangle release) wich works great with 1.5 MB ram in UAE, a plain 1200, etc... but it doesn't work on the Minimig, and I don't know why. Well, it works, but it hangs on the save menu. And I don't know what happends really, because theres no error, nothing.
-
@gaula92
You need an A1200 ;)
-
@gaula92
You need an A1200 ;)
I have several 1200. One is here, has 8MB Ram, and 6 more are in my village.
But I'd like to be able to play Cannon Fodder on the mighty Minimig, too. For me, FPGAs are the hardware of the future when it comes to retro systems.
-
I have several 1200. One is here, has 8MB Ram, and 6 more are in my village.
But I'd like to be able to play Cannon Fodder on the mighty Minimig, too. For me, FPGAs are the hardware of the future when it comes to retro systems.
Just got home after taking the wife and kids out for a meal and to see TRON.
The FPGA Arcade should be the best solution. Fast, plenty of RAM, AGA, hard file support...
-
offtopic: How was TRON? I'm a massive fan of the original...
-
@Darrin, did you manage to recreate the working savedisk?
-
@Darrin, did you manage to recreate the working savedisk?
Sorry, with Xmas, visitors and my kids running around I haven't yet. It is on my "to do" list. :)
My kids liked Tron. I saw it in 3D and the effects were great, but the story was rather bland. Basically, you knew what was going to happen next all the way through, but it was worth seeing.
I liked the way they used digital effects to make Bridges look just like he did in the 80s.
-
My kids liked Tron. I saw it in 3D and the effects were great, but the story was rather bland. Basically, you knew what was going to happen next all the way through
Welcome to Hollywood ;)
-
Did you try to get the savedisk working, Darrin?
Not that important, but well, I could use save in Cannon Fodder :P
-
Did you try to get the savedisk working, Darrin?
Not that important, but well, I could use save in Cannon Fodder :P
I couldn't with the latest core on the Minimig (although the WHDLoad version saves to the hard file). Unfortunately the testing was done with a much older core.
I then had the idea of powering up the C-One which uses an older Minimig core, but I got sidetracked with issues with that core (joystick detection not working correctly, only one sound channel plus the SID chip for C64 emulation playing up).
Somewhere in my office is a CF Card with a C-One core that does work correctly and that is my last hope for producing a working save disk. Unfortunately I'm in Houston until Friday.
-
Why did you have to go to Houston for ?
Do they have a prob......?
Apologies. BTW Savedisk works fine on an unadulterated Cclassic. But you knew that already..
-
Hey Darrin, sorry if I'm annoying...did you finally suceeed in the savedisk creation with the C-ONE?
-
Hi Gaula,
It's OK, keep reminding me. :)
No, sorry, I still haven't. What limited time I had on the weekend (my other "Amiga", the wife, kept insisting that I do things with her) were wrapped up updating my Minimig to the latest core and then trying to get that 1.6GB hard file speed sorted as I was only getting about 50% of what I should have been.
I was also getting issues with my Minimig not recognising a different SD Card.
Eventually the issue was tracked down to the formatting on the SD Card. It seems that the formatting tool for CF and SD cards given away with your typical OS' doesn't fully conform with the standard laid out (according to Panasonic). So I downloaded their free formatting tool and it fixed the new card so that it worked, and I reformatted the old card and the speed doubled (although I can't rule out that high speed mode may have been issue).
Anyway, that's as far as I got and now I'm back in Houston again.
I'll try again this weekend now that I have a fully functioning and tuned up machine to try it on.
For the record, here's how the new Minimig v1.1 & ARM core is responding on SysInfo:
OLD CORE/FIRMWARE:
Minimig 4MB with ARM using 2GB SD Card
68000 @ 39.00 MHz (as reported by SysInfo)
Drystones 1611
Mips 1.68
Chip v A600 = 3.00
speed v B2000 = 2.30
speed v A600 = 3.04
20MB Hard File: 822,627 Bps (OS3.1)
1.6GB Hard File: 833,968 Bps (ClassicWB, boots in 18 secs)
NEW CORE/FIRMWARE (Before reformatting card):
Minimig 4MB with ARM using 2GB SD Card
68000 @ 52.50 MHz (as reported by SysInfo)
Drystones 4591
Mips 4.79
Chip v A600 = 5.68
speed v B2000 = 6.56
speed v A600 = 8.67
20MB Hard File: 890,636 Bps (OS3.1)
1.6GB Hard File: 885,621 Bps (ClassicWB, boots in 12 secs)
After reformatting card with Panasonic untility:
1.6GB Hard File: 1,966,080 Bps Bps (ClassicWB, untimed boot)
Just for interest, I had my A2000 set up so I compared the speeds to that:
Meanwhile, I ran Sysinfo on my A2000 (because it is the only real miggy I have set up and working right now as the A4000 is in pieces again):
A2000 ECS 16MB Fast RAM & RTG CV643D
68040 @ 32.60 MHz (as reported by SysInfo)
Drystones 23,347
Mips 24.37
speed v B2000 = 33.40
speed v A600 = 39.77
40MB hard drive on GVP CPU SCSI: 1,569,724 bps
4GB CF Card attached via IDE Bhudda: 1,422,119 bps
So, all in all the Minimig stacks up pretty well as a cheap Amiga, especially for those who only really want to play games.
-
I was also getting issues with my Minimig not recognising a different SD Card.
This is very interesting indeed... Did you ask about the Minimig not being able to read a Transcend 4GB SDHC on the Minimig forum? I'm having problems with 4GB SDHC cards, too, but I can't find the solution.
-
This is very interesting indeed... Did you ask about the Minimig not being able to read a Transcend 4GB SDHC on the Minimig forum? I'm having problems with 4GB SDHC cards, too, but I can't find the solution.
Try using this download to format the card:
http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/sd/download/index.html
The 1GB card I initially used refused to work and (IIRC) the red light on the Minimig stayed on and the green one flashed while the screen stayed black (or perhaps it was the other way around). Anyway, after reformatting with the Panasonic software (on the same machine) and putting the same files back, it booted first time.
Personally, I've never used an SD card larger than 2GB on my Minimig, but I believe it supports up to 16GB.
-
Well I still can't get a save game ADF made on the Minimig v1.1.
I got the C-One going and thought I had made some more progress, but my C-One has issues with it locking up and refusing to boot unless I "wiggle" the RAM. Well, it locked up during testing, I wiggled the RAM and the little plastic bits that hold the RAM in place snapped. It now refuses to boot at all.
RIP C-One. It is probably for the best as the damn thing has been sending my blood pressure through the roof since I bought it.
-
Sorry to hear that about your C-ONE. I was once tempted to get one of these (years ago) but of course I finally skipped it... requiring a PC powersupply didn't look like a good sign. I believe it's death is for good: Minimig is just a lot better :D
In the other hand, I believe another solution would be to run the AmigaCD32 Whdload version of Cannon Fodder, but WITHOUT whdload. The Whdload version includes the game executable and it has AGA registers access removed (from it's readme), but the Amiga OS won't recognize the file as an executable one.
Could you take a look, please? I think it's something stupid, like the main executable file (called cannon_game, in the data/ folder) not having the proper header or something.
http://www.whdownload.com/games/Update-2007-09-11/CannonFodder_v1.1_CD32.zip
-
Sorry to hear that about your C-ONE. I was once tempted to get one of these (years ago) but of course I finally skipped it... requiring a PC powersupply didn't look like a good sign. I believe it's death is for good: Minimig is just a lot better :D
In the other hand, I believe another solution would be to run the AmigaCD32 Whdload version of Cannon Fodder, but WITHOUT whdload. The Whdload version includes the game executable and it has AGA registers access removed (from it's readme), but the Amiga OS won't recognize the file as an executable one.
Could you take a look, please? I think it's something stupid, like the main executable file (called cannon_game, in the data/ folder) not having the proper header or something.
http://www.whdownload.com/games/Update-2007-09-11/CannonFodder_v1.1_CD32.zip
Unfortunately I'm now in Odessa, Texas and almost 1000 miles from my Minimig. I could be here for a month. :)
-
Ok,ok, don't worry. I'll ask over EAB, there are great Amiga experts there, too :D